Mail-bag catcher



No. 624,444. Patented May 9, I899.. T. U. P. &. W. G. BAILEY.

MAIL BAG GATGHEB.

. (Application filed one; 29, 1897.) (No' Model.) 2 Sheets Shaei l.

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No. 624,444. Patented May 9, I899. T: 0. P. & W. G. BAILEY.

MAIL BAG BATCHEB.

(Application ffled Oct. 29, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS O. P. BAILEY, OF PITTSBURG, AND W'ILMOT G. BAILEY, OF IMPERIAL,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO MA'ITHENV H. STEVENSON,

QF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,444, datedMay 9, 1899.

Application filed October 2 9, 1 8 9 7.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, THOMAS O. P. BAILEY, residing at Pittsburg, andWILMOT G. BAI- LEY, residing at Imperial, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented ordiscovered new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of whichthe following is a specification.

Inthe accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification,Figure l is a perspective of our improved platform-post,showing themechanism in position for operation. Fig. 2 is an elevation of ourplatform-post and mail-car mechanism looking in the direction of thecars travel and showing the device at the moment of the interchange ofmailbags. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4c is an elevationalso of the same at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevationof the platform-post with the arms in their inoperative position. Fig. 6is a broken elevation of the mechanism carried by the mailcar, and Figs.7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detailed views of the same mechanism.

The purpose of our invention, generally stated, is to provide automaticmeans for taking up and depositing mail while the train is in motion.The devices in use have as a rule no means for receiving the mail fromthe train, but it is simply thrown off the car, sometimes falling underthe train, resulting oftentimes in the destruction of the mail-matterand 0ccasionally the derailment oflthe train. There are, however,devices on the market intended to catch the mail from the moving train,but they have so far been experimental and unsatisfactory in operation.Our invention overcomes all these difiiculties.

The following is a detailed description of our device:

'1 is the platform-post, having vertically-. pivoted arms 2 and 3. Arm 2is weighted at its rear end 4:, so that it maintains a vertical positionwhen not set for use, as shown in Fig. 5..

with a cross-piece 5, which extends beyond the arm 2 at each side andhas its ends grooved on top, forming a support for-one end of the Arm 2is providedat its other extremity Serial No. 656,777. (No model.)

7 7 are brackets mounted 011 post 1,bet ween,

which are pivotally supported catcher-arms 8 8. The catcher-arms 8 8have their un- Weighted extremities bent in a curve toward the right orleft, according to the side of the post on which they are mounted, thusreceiving the mail-bag from the moving train without sudden jar, thebend in the arm gradually overcoming the velocity of the bag. Rod 9,passing loosely through eye-lug 9 on post 1, is provided at its top withbeveled portion 10, fitted to force spring-"catch ll'on arm 2 out ofengagement with catch 11 on post 1 when rod 9 is forced up. Arm 3 has onits pivoted end projection 12',which when arm 3 falls into the positionshown in Fig. 5 strikes against the lower extremity of rod 9, drivingsaid rod up, and by means of beveled portion 10 throwing catch 11 out ofengagement with catch 11, thus allowing arm 2 to assume its verticalposition of rest. Catch 11 and catch 11* are beveled to insure theireasy engagement and disengagement. Catcher-arms S 8 are weighted attheir rear ends 13 13, so their normal position is approximatelyvertical. When in use, the weighted end of arm 8 is elevated. Pivoted to'rod 9 by slotted joints are bent levers 14: 14, which operate inrecesses cut in post 1 and terminate in catches 15 15, which supportarms 8 8 when in position. When rod 9 is forced up, the levers 14 14turn, releasing the catch 15 supporting catcher-arm 8, allowing saidcatcher-arm to assume its position of rest.

We now pass to that portion of our device which is carried on themail-car, consisting of a catcher-arm to receive the mail-bag from theplatform-post and means for holding the bag which ison the car, so thatit may be 0st. p On the door-frame of the mail-car 16 are fixed fourbrackets with perforated lugs 17 17 in which are mounted the rods 18 and18. Mounted to slide-on rods 18 and 18 is upright taken off by thecatcher-arm on the platform- 19. On the extremities of rod 18 aremounted the coil-springs 18 to prevent the upright 19 from being thrownagainst brackets 17 17 when the device is in use. Upright 19 is cut awayon both sides near its upper extremity, forming seats 19 19, so that thecatcher-arm and bag-holder may be mounted on either side of upright 19,according to the direction the train travels. Fitted to be held in seat19 in upright 19 are collars 20 and 21. Passing through said collars 2Oand 21 and the ends of seat 19 is rod 22, fitted at its upper extremity22 to engage a wrench or handle.

the meshing of gears 20 and 22.

- the platform-post.

On the bottom of collar 20 is lug 20, fitted to move in mortise 21 incollar 21, so that when collar 20 is revolved it will move a distanceequal to the length of the mortise 21 before projection 20 strikescollar 21 and causes it to revolve also. Collar 21 is also cut away toform shoulders 21 and 21, which, coming in contact with the sides ofseat 19, prevent further revolution of collar 21. On the top of collar20 is beveled gear 20, which meshes with vertical double partial gear22", also beveled and mounted in a vertical slot 22in upright 19,between seats 19 19. That portion of upright 19, which separates seats19 19 and slot 22, is partially cut away to permit Integral with partialgear 22 is handle 23, which at rest fits into slots 22 for part of itslength. Handle 23 is fitted with spring-catch 23, which when the handleis pushed into slot 22 engages a suitable recess on top of upright 19and prevents the handle from dropping down from its vertical position.Mounted on collar 20 is arm 24, fitted on its outer end with the doubleholder 25, the under member thereof consisting of a cross-piece 26,while the upper member is a spring-retainer 27. Member 27 is pivoted atits center to enable the ring on the bag to disengage itself easilytherefrom. On the lower face of arm 24 is integral lug 28, on which ishorizontally pivoted catch 29, of like construction with holder 25,except that spring member 30 of catch 29 is on the side .nearest thecollar 20, and said member 29 is pivoted to move slightly in ahorizontal plane.

29 is a spring, keeping catch 29 normally at right angles with arm 24.On collar 21 is fixed catcher arm 31, which is curved, as shown in thefigures, so as to gradually lessen the velocity of the bag after it isreceived from In collar 20 is a set-screw 32, so that should anyaccident render the gears or handle 23 useless set-screw 32 may bescrewed into rod 22, and ahandle or wrench being applied to the squareend 22 of said rod 22 the collars may thereby be rotated.

The portion of our-invention carried by the mail-car is so assembledthat when the catcherarm 31 and holder-arm. 24 are swung parallel withthe side of the carthe handle 23 assumes avertical position in slot 22.When handle is pulled down, the revolution of partial and with itholder-arm 24. Collar 21 remains gear 22 acts on gear 20, revolvingcollar 20,

stationary until lug 20 travels the length of mortise 21 and thenstriking against the end of said mortise causes collar 21 to turn andwithit catcher-arm 31. The turning of these collars would be stopped byshoulder 21 on collar 21 coming in contact with the side of seat 19. Tobring the mechanism back to its originalposition the handle 23 isbrought back to its vertical position. This would entail the turning'ofcollar 20 in the reverse direction of that taken above. Lug 20 wouldtravel back through mortise 21 until coming in contact with the endthereof it would cause collar 21 to revolve. This turning would continueuntil the handle 23 assumed a vertical posit-ion and shoulder 21 oncollar 21 rested against the side of seat 19. The two seats 19 inupright 19 are of corresponding shape, and the collar 20 is made so thatit may be mounted in either seat on rod 22, according to the directionof the trains motion. Collar 21, however, cannot be conveniently madeinterchangeable on account of the curved formof catcher-arm 31; but twocollars having catcher-arms curved in opposite directions must beprovided-for the device in such cases. The partial gear 22 has beveledcogs on both faces, so that gear 20" may mesh in whatever seat 19 collar20 is mounted.

The operation of our device is as follows: The mail-clerk on the carwould place collar 20 and the proper collar 21 in forward seat 19 inupright 19. Thetop of ring 33 011 mail-bag 34 is slipped in that portionof holder 25 which is to the rear when arm 24 is extended at rightangles to the car, and the side of said ring 33 is slipped into thecorresponding half of catch 29, which keeps the ring in a vertical planeat right angles to the car when the arm is extended. Handle 23 is thenpulled down, turning arm 24 to a position at right angles to the car,and also turning catcher-arm 31 outward to a less extent through theaction of lug 20 in mortise 21. The station-master draws down arm 2 andpulls up arm 3, taking ring 33 at the top of bag 34, places the ringover the half of double catch 5, which. faces the direction of thetrains travel. With the smaller ring 35 at the bottom of bag 34 heengages catch 6, which he swings around toward the direction of thetrains travel. When arm 2 is drawn down, it is held in position by theengagement of catches 11 and. 11, and the catcher-arm 8 when in positionfor use is supported by the hook 15 on lever 14, which.

projects beyond the line of post 1 when rod 9 is at its lowest point. Asthe train passes theplatform-post catcher-arm 8, in position on theplatform-post, will engage ring 33'on bag 34, whichjs held by thecatches 25 and 29 on arm 24 on the carand the bag 34 will becomedisengaged from catches 25 and 29. The gradual curve in catcher-arm 8will tend to reduce the velocity of bag 34, so that ring 33 willgradually come to a rest on catcherarm 8 against post 1. Catcher-arm 31on the car will engage ring 33 of bag 34, held by arms 2 and 3, anddisengage it from catches 5 and 6. The peculiar curve in catcher-arm 31will take bag 34: fromthe arms 2 and 3 with but little jar when the bagreaches the base of the arm. When the bag is snatched from arms 2 and 3,arm 3 in-falling, by means of projection 12, strikes rod 9 an upwardblow, causing its beveled end 10 to force catch 11 from engagement withcatch 11, thus releasing arm 2. At the same time the upward movement ofrod 9 turns lever 14 slightly,withdrawing hook 15 from undercatcher-arm. 8, allowing said catcher arm to assume its position ofrest. When catcher arm 31 on the car receives bag 34 from the platformpost and catcher-arm 8 on the platform-post receivesbag 34 from arm 24,themail-clerk on the car then pushes handle 23 up into slots 22, turningarm 24 and catcher-arm 31 toward the car into their positions of rest.The bag may then be easily slipped ofi of catcher-arm 31.

While we have described with particularity and detail the various parts,even to the minor portions, of the mechanism,we do not intend to confineourselves to any subordinate feature or features except where they areexpressly set out and enumerated in the claims; but

We intend to claim, broadly 1. In platform-posts, the combination of anupright; two bag-supporting arms pivoted on said upright; a catcher-armpivoted on said upright, and means by which the assumption by one ofsaid bag-supporting arms of its inoperative position releases theotherbag-supporting arin and said catcher-arm from their operativepositions.

2. In platform-posts, the combination of an upright, twobag-supportingarms pivoted on said upright; a catcher-arm pivoted onsaid upright; a vertically-moving rod carried by said upright andactuated by one of said bagsupporting arms, by means of which rodactuated by said bag-supporting arm the second bag-supporting arm andsaid catcher-arm are released from their operative positions.

3. In platform-posts, the combinationof an upright two bag-supportingarms on said upright; a catch on one of said bag-supporting arms, asecond catch on said upright, fitted to engage said first catch whensaid bag-supporting arm is in operative position, a projection on theother bag-supporting arm; a rod capable of vertical movement fitted tobe acted upon by said projection, and capable of disengaging said firstcatch from said second catch, a bent lever actuated by said rod, and acatcher-arm pivoted to said upright and supported by said bent lever inoperative position. 1

of an upright mounted on the car; a seat in said upright; two collarsseated in the said seat, a rod passing through said collars and the endsof said seat; a bag-supporting arm on one of said collars; a lug on theend of said collars; a catcher-arm on the other collar, and a mortise inthe end of said collar by which the said lug is engaged.

6. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright mounted on acar; a seat in said upright; two collars seated in said seat; a rodpassing through said collars and the ends of said seat; a bag-supportingarm attached to one of said collars; a lug on the end of said collar; acatcher-arm attached to the other collar; a mortise in the end of saidcollar by which the said lug is engaged; a gear on the other end of saidfirst collar; a vertical gear mounted in said upright and meshing withsaid first gear, and means for revolving said vertical gear.

7. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright carried on acar; a seat in said upright; collars mounted in said seat; abagsupporting arm and a catcher-arm attached to said collarsrespectively; a rod passing through said seat; having one of its endsfitted to engage a handle or wrench, and means for causing said collarsto turn with said rod.

8. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright mounted on thecar; two seats of like reverse elevation in said upright, and collarsmountable in said seats; a bag-supporting arm and a catcher-arm attachedto said collars respectively.

9. In mail-bag exchangers, the combination of an upright mounted on thecar, two seats of like reverse elevation in said upright, two collarsmountable in said seats; a catch or arm attached to one of said collarsand a bag-supporting arm attached to the second of said collars.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 18th day ofMarch, A. D. 1897.

THOMAS O. P. BAILEY. WILMOT G BAILEY.

Witnesses:

E. M. BLATT, EDWARD O. LAURENCE.

